9918. “石榴” 表关于良善的记忆知识. 这从 “石榴” 的含义清楚可知,

“石榴” 是指关于良善的记忆知识 (参看9552节). 石榴之所以安在外袍的底边上, 是因为 “底边” 表示天堂和教会的最后和最低, 或最外在的事物, 那里的最后或最外在的事物就是记忆知识, 这一点从前面 (9915, 9917节) 关于在天堂里并与个体人同在的良善与真理的层级彼此跟随的次序的说明清楚看出来.

“石榴” 所表示的关于良善和真理的记忆知识由取自圣言的教义事物构成; 这些教义事物作为记忆知识而存在, 并且到了这种程度: 它们就存在于居于外在人或属世人中的记忆里面. 但当它们进入居于内在人或属灵人中的记忆里时, 如当一个人照它们生活时的情形, 与真理有关的教义事物就会变成信之事物, 与良善有关的教义事物仁之事物, 被称为属灵的. 当这种情况发生时, 它们几乎从外部或属世记忆中消失, 仿佛成为本能, 因为它们已被植入人的生命, 就像所有通过频繁练习, 使用而变成第二天性的事物一样. 由此明显可知何为记忆知识, 它有什么用处; 因而教会的教义事物只要唯独存于记忆中, 又有什么用处. 因为当它们只存于记忆中时, 它们就占据聪明和智慧之下的位置, 而不是上升或进入生命, 除非它们成为内在人中的信和仁的事.

These days we tend to think of "roads" as smooth swaths of pavement and judge them by how fast we can drive cars on them. A "path" is something different, suitable only for walking or maybe bicycles, and a "way" has more to do with giving directions than any physical reality. When we get "lost" it usually means we're in a car on an unfamiliar road -- a far cry from being in the middle of a trackless wilderness with no idea which direction to go. The ancient world was very different, with isolated towns and endless square miles of trackless wilderness. Then a "way" was a set of landmarks to follow to get from one place to another through the wilderness. A "path" was a way used enough to leave a visible trace on the ground, and a "road" was a heavily used path, easily followed and walkable. So it makes sense that when used in the Bible, all three terms represent guiding truth, ideas that lead us where we want to go. This is pictured in the modern use of "way" -- when we talk about the "way" to do something or the "way" to get somewhere. We're talking about the correct, best, most efficient method of doing something or getting somewhere. And it's good information -- truth -- that helps us find that best way.